By Bethany Bray
Staff Writer
April 03, 2008 05:00 am On April 21, North Andover natives Maggie Wittbold and Lindsey Dionne will run 26.2 miles — more than 50,000 steps — in the Boston Marathon. With each stride, they'll be raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, funding research that's coming closer and closer to finding a cure for cancer. The cause is very personal for Wittbold, 24, and Dionne, 26; both women have lost their fathers to cancer and have friends and family now battling various forms of the disease. "It makes you go that extra mile. It makes it all worth it," said Dionne of running for her dad, Robert Dionne, who passed away three years ago from lymphoma. "He'll definitely be by my side (as I run the marathon). That's the whole reason I'm doing it," she said. William Wittbold, Maggie's father, passed away at age 47 in June 1999, 14 months after being diagnosed with lung cancer; her mother, Karen, and younger brother, Sean, are leukemia survivors. Wittbold has participated in a triathlon, half-marathon, and the 2007 Boston Marathon, raising more than $16,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Wittbold and Dionne have been training together since November with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, which coaches individuals to do endurance events to raise money for research for a cure for blood cancers. Through the team, the duo works with professional coaches, mentors that have also dealt with cancer firsthand, and will run as part of a team of more than 100 people raising money for the organization. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society channels 90 percent of the money they raise to research. Wittbold believes researchers are so close that it is realistic a cure for leukemia might be found in her lifetime, she said. In the meantime, the duo has been collecting sponsors for their run from family and friends. Wittbold, who ran the Boston Marathon with the Team in Training last year, hopes to collect $7,500, and Dionne has a goal of $5,000. Both women are more than halfway to reaching their sponsorship goals. Dionne and Wittbold have also organized a benefit at the Red Sky Bar in Boston on May 30. The $20 cover charge for the night will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Dionne is a graduate of Central Catholic High School, Bentley College and is is in the nursing program at Salem State College. Maggie Wittbold graduated from North Andover High School in 2001 and Merrimack College in 2005. Both Dionne and Wittbold hope to work as oncology nurses, they said, helping to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients. Dionne and Wittbold have known each other since high school, when they worked at a part-time job together. They were in a prerequisite nursing class together this summer at Merrimack College. Through having a class together, the duo got to talking about how Wittbold had run the Boston Marathon last year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Dionne has always been a runner, she said, and ran track in high school. Wittbold hadn't planned on running the marathon a second time, but the two agreed, "I'll do it if you do it," they said, and they started training together in the fall. "Physically, I knew I could do it, but the hard part is all mental. When I first started (running) I thought 'what am I doing?' but now I'm so excited," Dionne said. They both squeeze running in between jobs and school — besides nursing school, Dionne works at a Coach retail store and Wittbold works in sales for Brinks Home Security. They run the marathon route together with other members of the Team in Training every Saturday, rain or shine. The team begins every Saturday training session with dedications, where team members share the story of someone close to them who has battled cancer. "It's a huge accomplishment. After your runs (with the team) you know why you're doing this," Dionne said, who noted that running has become a great stress release for her, a time she looks forward to each day. Last year, Wittbold had to walk a large portion of the marathon route due to a knee injury, but training is going well for this year's race, she said. It was "amazing, very exhilarating" to cross the finish line last year, she said. "Training is a lot easier this year because I know what to expect. There's not as much of a shock value. Not as much pain or soreness, but more snow! Last year my brother was sick, so it was more emotional for me. He's been in remission for over a year, so it's a lot happier, not as nerve-wracking, knowing he's doing really well," Wittbold said. "I'm just really excited." On marathon day, Wittbold and Dionne will be running side-by-side, chatting and encouraging one another to keep going. The two share the connection of having lost their fathers, and have grown closer through training, they agreed. They estimate the 26.2 mile marathon route should take them about four and a half hours. Team in Training members wear bright purple shirts screen printed with the names of people they're running for on the back. Dionne said she'll also be wearing a dragonfly, which represents her dad, on her somewhere as she runs. The duo agreed that one of the hardest things about their training has been running in foul weather almost every Saturday — from snow to rain and everything in between. Last year, Wittbold ran the marathon through a nor'easter. They both have their fingers crossed that April 21 will bring perfect weather and blue skies, the duo agreed.
Lindsey Dionne and Maggie Wittbold: running for a reason r For more information or to sponsor either of the women for the Boston Marathon, visit www.teamintraining.org r To make a donation, click on the "find a participant" link on the top banner. Type in either "Lindsey Dionne" or "Margaret Wittbold" in to the search field. r To contact Maggie with questions about donating, e-mail maggiewittbold@gmail.com r To find out more about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, visit www.leukemia-lymphoma.org r Founded in 1949, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is based out of White Plains, NY; the Massachusetts chapter is in Framingham. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fundraiser Wittbold and Dionne have organized a benefit at the Red Sky Bar in Boston on May 30 at 7 p.m. The $20 cover charge for the night will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For more information or directions, visit www.redskyboston.com
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